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I'm travelling into a new way of working, a new country, a new language, and a new hobby which I'm passionate about. Come with me for some of the journey...

Monday, 20 April 2015

Ally Pally PaperArtsy Giveaway

Hello all! I'm sorry I've been so absent from Craftyblogland... this is how life gets when I'm deep in a rehearsal process. I'm missing being at my craft table and I'm missing visiting you all regularly. Soon... soon... In the meantime, as a thank you for your lovely visits and comments, this post includes a GIVEAWAY, so do check the details at the end!I'm glad you've been enjoying revisiting some of my Calico Craft Parts projects - and there are more of those to come - but I'm aware it's now over a week since the big craft fair at Ally Pally, and I haven't got around to filling you in on my first bit of live demonstrating.As The Big Stamp and Scrapbooking Show at Alexandra Palace clashed with Version Scrap in Paris this year, PaperArtsy needed some extra people to keep things interesting in both places, so several of us were roped in to help with the demo-ing at Ally Pally. I'm never much of a fan of photos of myself, so I'm going to leave you to track those down elsewhere... I'm just sharing a few of the samples I ended up with from the day.

I know lots of people have already been sharing the fun - including Alison (Craftytrog) from the Saturday, Deb (who I took over from on the stand) and lovely Julie Ann, who was demo-ing alongside me on the Sunday (her bird women are even more fabulous in real life!) - plus you'll find a great Saturday round-up from Helen, and an overall one from Darcy if you've still not caught up.

The translucent Frescos are so good for creating a glassy look - especially those new blues - and with a coat of gloss glaze over the top you get a lovely shine.I always work with dots of paint and plenty of water on the craft mat to keep a really light, translucent look.

People were keen to see the Grunge Paste in action - and this tag seemed a good way to show it off - as well as how to layer up the Frescos with washes and dry-brushing to make the most of the texture.

I knew that the Lynne Perrella images would be quite time-consuming, so I thought it would be good to have some simpler makes up my sleeve. The Sara Naumann images seemed like a good choice if I wanted to create something quick and easy (check out Eclectica ESN). This was my planned sample.And it turned out to have been a good idea to be ready for anything. The thing people seemed to want to see more than anything else was the Crackle Glaze and how it worked...

... so I found myself creating a number of crackled backgrounds one after another - demonstrating the glaze in different ways.As you can see, a couple of them still need a bit of finishing off, but I'm pretty sure the people I made the backgrounds for went off to buy some Crackle Glaze. In my book that's a result!

The jumbo Sara Naumann tag was a bit of a tag by committee! First up I was showing the Crackle Glaze with paint applied directionally to get the weathered paint look (that's the top right corner, demo'd in neutrals, as requested)...

... and then lower down the tag I showed what happens when you apply it with the Cut'n'Dry Foam for more of a porcelain crackle effect, and that time the request was for teals and turquoises.The crackle ended up mostly covered up by the "ground" shading in the end!

Someone else arrived to watch and was curious about stencilling, so I added some of that.I was enjoying the challenge of not knowing what would be next... to be honest, it's not that far removed from my own creative process where I generally set off with no particular destination in mind!

The stamping came about as I offered up the tip about clear-embossing an image when you stamp it, which frees you up to paint, stencil and stamp, knowing you can always wipe the image clean to keep it popping nicely.

At Ally Pally I also used the bird to show how to mask and stamp "behind" the image, but once I got home I added a pop of dimension with a whiter crackled bird to echo the original crackle in the top corner.After a few more layers of stamping and a bit of doodling I had a tag which, though I'd've never come up with it all by myself, I rather like the look of - so thank you to all my creative collaborators on the day!

The other tag I created was mainly about showing off those fabulous translucent blue shades, and it's definitely ended up being my favourite.I started with a Crackle Glaze background (another watcher was wanting to see what it could do, and I'm always happy to play with crackle as you know!) and then created an adaptation of some of the tags I made back in 2013 for my PaperArtsy design spot.It's really a combination of that 2013 trio and the recent ATC created with the glassy blues. Where before I was creating my bottles with moulded ATC, now I can just deploy the fabulous Glass Blue, Southern Skies and Blueberry Frescos, and I'm away!

Once I got home, I added some text stamping and ChitChat stickers, as well as some shading around the edges...

... and gave the bottle a nice firm base to stand on too, using a combination of pastel and watercolour pencils.

Finish it with a coat of Gloss Glaze and who needs acetate any more?!

I had loads of fun on the stand... it's really interesting how the creative process is modified by people watching (and suggesting and requesting) - though I think, in essence, I'm probably more naturally a solitary crafter! It was great chatting to people, and lovely watching them get enthusiastic about these paints, glazes and stamps that I love using; and I always enjoy a good learning curve.Big thanks to Leandra and PaperArtsy for inviting me along, to Darcy for support and to lovely Nina from It's Crafting Time too. I hope it won't be the last time I get to play that way.

GIVEAWAY

As a massive thank you for your continued visits and lovely comments, even while I'm hopelessly and helplessly absent, I'm offering up these four sample tags as a little giveaway,

and there'll probably be some other little bits and bobs in the envelope too, I should think!

If you'd like your name to be in the hat, just say so in your comment below.

I'll take entries up to and including the 1st of May (23.59 UK time on 1st May)

and then pick a name out of the hat.

Persuasion is clearly a form of demonstration, since we are most fully persuaded when we consider a thing to have been demonstrated.
Aristotle

The current recipe over at the Dragons Dream Tag It On challenge is Blue and Words... are you kidding?! Must have been written for me!! So I hope at least three out of the four of these will fit right in.

57 comments:

What a great post, Alison - so fun to hear about the agility of demonstrating to customer requests! And the results are incredible! I really love your built up texture through the brick stencil, and your bottles with the new transparent paints. l would certainly love any of your tags! I've been following Ally Pally as best possible from this side of the pond through various social media, so thanks for adding to that resource. And I agree, Julie Ann's bird women rock! xxx Lynn

I am even sorrier now (even more sorry?!) that I couldn't go on the Sunday for your demos. If Leandra does this again, I'm rearranging my diary to get there. Your tags are beautiful, I love the bird ones and would be delighted if my name comes out of your hat! That's a great quote you used too. Hope work settles soon and we see more of you again. xx

What fun! I have not been able to get to Ally Pally for the last couple of years. I would have loved to have been part of it. Your make and takes are brilliant. That gloss looks like glass...very cool effect. Thanks for offering this fun giveaway and good luck with the rehearsals xx

Like Helen, so sorry to have missed you at AP! Your samples are brimming with techniques and I would love to go into the draw! Actually ordered the glassy blues on the strength of your PA launch work! Glad that you enjoyed yourself demoing!

Lovely samples. I do love the thrill of demonstrating and meandering my way through various techniques as per customer interest too! It's always exciting. I'd love to be popped into your draw for these, they are fab.

I'm loving seeing all the textures and techniques on your tags and I can't help but think that you must employ these when you and your mother are working on the miniature houses. I can just see the stained glass sample coming in extremely handy as well as the weathered wood. Beautiful makes Alison!hugs,Lisa x

Alison, I had to go say Hello to you, on Deb`s blog ... Glad to "meet" you, dear -I love seing peoples faces in my head, when writing to them :-)It must be a fantastic experience teaching and showing, and I WISH I could one day be in a place like this one, to learn !!Your tags are amazing, and I would love to win one of them, so please put my name in the pile ! Hugs,Dorthe

Well, I have just added a couple more items to my ever lengthening wish list..... The samples you did are fabulous, you and they were clearly a big hit on the day. As I am so fortunate to have a few of your beautiful pieces of work already, you don't need to include me in the draw. Hugs, Anne xx

Alison, I wasn't able to make it to Ally Pally this time (sad face!) but perhaps I will make the next one - hope you will too. Your samples are lovely. Thanks for the chance of winning some of your art. jean.x

Not able to visit any of the Southern shows as too far for me to travel so it is a shame i will never see you demonstrate or get to meet you Alison but visiting your blog is the next best thing as your describe your projects with such precision and wonderful photographs.

Would love to go in the hat please, i collect blue glass so your tag with the bottle caught my eye, it is spectacular, thank you for the giveaway and a chance to have a piece of your ArT:-) xxx

These are beautiful Alison! Although I would love them, I would love for someone else to have some Alison Art as I already have the beautiful tag you sent me! Hoping you get some crafty time soon! Chrisx

It was so interesting so read how your tags were conceived as the thoughts and wishes of your viewers. I would have been a nervous wreck, but you pulled it off beautifully. Yes, I would enjoy being included in your drawing. Thank You.

Alison thank you for this give away option. These tags are so sweet, cute and adorable. Both the backgrounds but also the way you build up the different themes. I know the bird with looong legs is one of my faves. But also the stained glass windows are awesome... Oh gosh... You are so talented.And please dont feel bad about being busy.. We all know how that is.Thanks again. And yes please put my name in the hat...lolHugs from Monica... Spain

Oh how I wish I could have watched you (and your partners in crime) demoing at Ally Pally but sadly I couldn't make it this time. Watching you create that beautiful bottle would have been the one I most wanted to see. You are very generous giving us the opportunity to win these fabulous tags so please put me in the hat too!

Wonderful tags Alison, I would be thrilled to bits to be the lucky recipient of even one of them! Sounds like you had a wonderful time at Ally Pally and I love the tag created 'by committee', it turned out wonderfully. The blue bottle is my fav though, gorgeous translucent blues.

Looks like a fun day for all! Love all your demo tags. And who wouldn't love to receive them! Count me in please! Have a wonderful birthday too! I should think a bottle of something nice should be drunk. Hugs and Happy Birthday!

How I wished I could have been there to watch you demo in person but it was not to be.Your tags are stunning and your breakdown on the making of them is very much appreciated I would love to have the chance to be picked out of the hat to win these.

It was great to see you at AP. Your tags are all gorgeous & as I was able to watch you paint that fantastic bottle I would love to own it. So, yes please, include me in your very generous giveaway, thank you very much.

How generous to have a 'giveaway', Alison. These tags are superb. It was lovely to have the opportunity to craft beside you and to snatch a glimpse of your creative process. It is indeed fascinating to meet with people at a show like this, to hear their comments and to discover their different approaches to crafting and to work with their requests and suggestions - as you point out - very different from solitary crafting, which has been refuge for a while now. Both are stimulating in a different way, I agree. I should love to have my name included in the hat. Thank You. xxx

These tags are wonderful Alison. Such beauties. They look like you had fun making them. You are so generous with your give-away but as I was lucky enough to receive one of your parcels relatively recently I will let someone else have a chance.Hugs Dx

Sadly I couldn't make it to Ally Pally :( ... it would of been lovely to see you demo-ing in real life!!!!....and....Omg your tags are beautiful... Love the bottle one!....and I would also love to be in with the chance of winning some of your gorgeous artwork Alison....will keep my fingers crossed ...Have a lovely week! Jan x

If it's not too late to enter the draw, any of these tags would be treasured in my home Alison... Thanks for this great post, sorry to have not read it before. Have a lovely end of week-end, hugs and love Coco xxx

I'm so glad I found your blog! I love your colors, and the step-by-steps. It's great to hear about different materials, it keeps life interesting if there are always new things to try out and art to aspire to.I will add your blog to my sidebar, so I - and hopefully others who visit me - will find their way to here.The tags are lovely, just precious.

I am laughing right now as I write this ... thinking about you doing a "tag by committee". That forum gave us a glimpse at just how brilliantly talented you are. It's not only your amazing technical abilities that are brilliant, but is also that your subconscious has the gift to guide you where to put those gorgeous elements to create something cohesive in a demo situation. I'm floored. The winner of these tags were so lucky!! Those translucent fresco paints are seriously climbing to the top of my wish list :) Wow!!!!!! That bottle is simply amazing. -- ME

Beyond thrilled to be one of Tim Holtz's

About Me

My name is Alison, and I'm a completely addicted crafter. Although I've done bits and pieces most of my life, this whole world of stashes and challenges and talented, inspirational crafters has blown me away since I discovered it in summer 2012.
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All content on this page, including text, photos and designs are copyright Alison Bomber. They are made available for personal inspiration, but please do not use them for profit or gain by means of publication or contest submissions without written permission. Many thanks.